Her reaction was so swift and dramatic, she did not even give staff time to tell her they could simply bake a fresh batch.

Police are appealing for help to trace the woman who fled with her two young sons at Sugarswirlz cake shop in Cardiff city centre.

The shop's owner, Sally Dodd, 43, said: 'The woman went absolutely ballistic when she was told we didn't have the cupcake flavour she wanted - it is called the sweet tooth fairy cake and is very popular.

'She didn't even wait for us to tell her that if she waited we could bake some fresh cupcakes for her.

'She threw herself on the floor ranting and raving while her children screamed and shouted.

'Then she came round to my side of the counter and grabbed me by the hair before I could get out of her way.

Sugarswirlz cake shop in Cardiff, South Wales. The woman inflicted around £400 worth of damage on the shop, which opened just two months ago

'I managed to tear myself free before the woman started smashing glass display units and spilling cakes all over the floor. I've never seen anything like it.

'You expect a certain amount of risk running a bar or a pub but not in a cupcake shop.'

The woman inflicted around £400 worth of damage on the shop, which opened just two months ago.

The £2.20 sweet tooth fairy cake, which has become a firm favourite among customers, is made out of an assortment of flavours and topped with candy floss.

'You expect a certain amount of risk running a bar or a pub but not in a cupcake shop' - shop owner Sally Dodd

Police were yesterday trying to trace the woman, aged between 35 and 45, with shoulder-length strawberry blonde hair.

The 5ft 3in well-built woman was wearing a mid-length green coat. Detectives are hoping that CCTV cameras will help to identify the woman who is believed to be from Newport, South Wales.

A police spokeswoman said: 'We are investigating an incident of actual bodily harm.'Officers were called after a 43-year-old woman was assaulted and damage was caused to the premises.'

Det Insp Noel Harris said: 'This was an unprovoked incident which caused a great deal of distress to the victim.

'There were several witnesses at the scene and we would ask anyone with information who hasn't spoken to the police already to please contact us.'